Snell's law experiment with glass block

[Barclay]

Homework Statement

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A student wants to find the refractive index of a rectangular block of glass. He draws around the block and marks the position of a ray of light that travels through the block. With the block removed, the student can draw in a normal line and then measure the angle of incidence and the angle of refraction. The student repeats this process for different angles of incidence. His measurements are shown in the table.

Angle of incidence Angle of refraction

10° ...... 6.5°
20° ........ 13°
30° .......20°
40° ....... 25°
50° .......32°
60° ........35°

Homework Equations

Snells law
Refractive index = (sin i / sin r)


3. QUESTIONS & the attempt at a solution

(i) Draw a diagram to show the measurements the student needs to make.

I'm okay with this part

(ii) What was the independent variable in this investigation? What was the dependent variable?

Independent variable is the angle of incidence (because it is the one that can be varied).
Dependent variable is the angle of refraction (because it is dependent on the angle of incidence).

(iii) What, if any, safety precautions should be taken if this experiment is carried out in the classroom?

Ensure that the room is dark for there is no stray light that might make the ray of light difficult to see.

(iv) Describe two possible reasons the measurements may not be completely accurate.

The beams of light may be too thick and splayed so measurements of angles will be inaccurate.

(v) What difference would it make to the results if light of a different color was used in the experiment?

The wavelength will be different so the angle of refraction will be different.
What formula links the angle of refraction and the wavelength?Thanks

 

[davenn]

Hi Barclay

(i) Draw a diagram to show the measurements the student needs to make.

I'm okay with this part

When doing homework problems on the forum or elsewhere ... it is a good thing to show your working diagrams etc
to make sure the student has the correct understanding

(iii) What, if any, safety precautions should be taken if this experiment is carried out in the classroom?

Ensure that the room is dark for there is no stray light that might make the ray of light difficult to see.

That's not really a safety issue is it ? ... that's more of an experiment contamination issue
when speaking of safety precautions, I would expect them to be referring to student safety as they did the experiment

so in that light, consider the light sources, that can produce a narrow beam, that you may use for this experiment
one would require safety eyewear and one wouldn't ... what would they be ?

(v) What difference would it make to the results if light of a different color was used in the experiment?

The wavelength will be different so the angle of refraction will be different.
What formula links the angle of refraction and the wavelength?

you already know that, you listed it near the top of your post
so write it out in full, and refer to the wiki page on it if you are not sure Dave

 

[Barclay]

Hello, I don't know how to paste my own pictures on here so I've got some from the internet:https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/85/Refraction_photo.png

 

[Barclay]

so in that light, consider the light sources, that can produce a narrow beam, that you may use for this experiment
one would require safety eyewear and one wouldn't ... what would they be ?

A laser light can be used such as from a laser pen or a laser spirit level (used by builders)
Regarding a formula linking wavelength and refractive index I found this

 

[gneill]

What formula links the angle of refraction and the wavelength?

Do a search on the Sellmeier equation.

Hello, I don't know how to paste my own pictures on here so I've got some from the internet:

Upload a file from your machine. Use the UPLOAD icon at the lower right of the edit panel.

 

[Barclay]

(ii) What was the independent variable in this investigation? What was the dependent variable?

Independent variable is the angle of incidence (because it is the one that can be varied).
Dependent variable is the angle of refraction (because it is dependent on the angle of incidence).

Have I got the independent and dependent variables mixed up?

I'm concerned because I read somewhere that : x-axis = independent variable y-axis = dependent variable.

But later in the question in the book it says: Draw a graph of sin i (y-axis) against sin r (x-axis).

Do a search on the Sellmeier equation.

Have seen it but it's beyond High School level. Way above my needs. Thanks